Publications

ISIS Global Strategy: March 2016

March 25, 2016 - Harleen Gambhir

ISW’s new ISIS Global strategy map places Chad and Niger in ISIS’s Far Abroad campaign to reflect recruitment by ISIS’s Libyan affiliate and attacks by ISIS’s Nigerian affiliate (also known as Boko Haram), respectively.

ISW in the News: February 2016

March 24, 2016 - John Lawrence

In February, ISW analysts spoke out frequently on Russia in the Middle East, Aleppo, ISIS in Libya, and Iraq. Our Russian airstrikes map continued to figure prominently as well as our Aleppo maps showing how Russia helped the regime almost complete its encirclement of this key city.

ISW in the News: February 2016

March 24, 2016 - John Lawrence

"The Russians have developed a way of getting the U.S. formally to permit offensive Russian military operations against American partners on the ground, all the while calling it a ceasefire." Kimberly Kagan, Fox News Opinion, "How Russia Controls U.S. Policy"

Iraq Situation Report: March 15 - 21, 2016

March 21, 2016 - Patrick Martin

Supporters of Sadrist Trend leader Muqtada al-Sadr began a large sit-in in front of the entrance to the Green Zone on March 18. 

Ukraine Crisis Update: March 18, 2016

March 18, 2016 - Hugo Spaulding

Russian President Vladimir Putin is likely attempting to leverage his gains in the Syrian Civil War to expand Russia’s freedom of action in eastern Ukraine. Russia and the separatists began to escalate operations in eastern Ukraine in mid-February, directly coinciding with the implementation of the Syrian cessation of hostilities agreement on February 27 and subsequent drawdown of Russian forces.

Russia Security Update: March 3-17, 2016

March 17, 2016 - Hugo Spaulding

President Vladimir Putin presented Russia’s active military campaign in Syria as complete with the announced withdrawal of the “main part” of the Russian air group beginning March 15. The reported withdrawal of roughly 15 Russian bombers and close-support aircraft, however, represents a drawdown rather than Russia’s extrication from the Syrian Civil War, the intended message behind Putin’s announcement. The withdrawal of idle strike aircraft from Syria does not inhibit the continuation of Russia’s air campaign, which had already been reduced following the February start of the U.S.

Syrian Armed Opposition Powerbrokers

March 17, 2016 - Genevieve Casagrande

International negotiations to reach a political settlement in Syria have resumed, although serious challenges remain to reaching a political settlement. The talks follow two weeks of a “cessation of hostilities” in which the Russian air campaign in Syria decreased notably, though it did not entirely cease. Putin announced that he would withdraw some airframes from Syria on March 15, incentivizing both Assad and the opposition to engage in Geneva.

Syrian Armed Opposition Powerbrokers

March 17, 2016 - Jennifer Cafarella

International negotiations to reach a political settlement in Syria have resumed, although serious challenges remain to reaching a political settlement. The talks follow two weeks of a “cessation of hostilities” in which the Russian air campaign in Syria decreased notably, though it did not entirely cease. Putin announced that he would withdraw some airframes from Syria on March 15, incentivizing both Assad and the opposition to engage in Geneva.

Russian Airstrikes in Syria: February 29 - March 15, 2016

March 17, 2016 - Genevieve Casagrande
Russia reportedly withdrew approximately fifteen of its airframes from the Bassel al Assad International Airport in Latakia Province from March 15 - 16, following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s announcement of a drawdown on March 14.

Iraq Situation Report: March 8 - 14, 2016

March 14, 2016 - Patrick Martin

ISIS reportedly withdrew its forces from Hit District, west of Ramadi, ISIS’s rst reported withdrawal from a major urban center in Iraq. Between March 8 and March 14, security forces west of Ramadi have made rapid progress in recapturing villages from ISIS and are reportedly less than seven miles from Hit District’s southern perimeter.

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